Utility Job Site Safety Tips | HAAS Alert

Utility Job Site Safety Tips

September 27, 2024

Written by the HAAS Alert Team, Brynne Piehowski

There are few jobs quite as dangerous as utility work. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the utility industry faced an average of 25.6 fatalities a year from 2016 to 2020. Injuries are even more common; Urbint reports that the incidence rate for nonfatal injuries in utility system construction was 73.6 per 10,000 full-time workers in 2020 alone.

Utility workers often perform their duties in adverse weather conditions or at night, working with electricity or water. Linemen in particular have to perform high up on poles, increasing their risk. The following statistics from World Metrics highlight the dangers faced by linemen:

• The fatality rate for lineworkers is nearly 400% higher than the national average for all occupations.
• Over the last ten years, an average of 26 linemen lose their lives every year due to fatal work injuries.
• Linemen experience a non-fatal injury rate of 104.6 per 10,000 full-time workers.
• For every lineman fatality, there are approximately 20 non-fatal injuries.
• 61% of fatal injuries among linemen are due to transportation incidents.

It's a dangerous but necessary job. Our communities are reliant on utilities like electricity and the internet. Whenever either of these utilities is out of service, people demand restoration as soon as possible — no matter the circumstances.

New safety requirements from the Infrastructure Health & Safety Association

Utility workers are required to perform their job duties, regardless of the dangers involved. In response to these hazards, the Infrastructure Health & Safety Association has updated the Electrical Utility Safety Rules book (EUSR), effective January 1, 2024.

Several rules were added or updated to the EUSR, including:

• Rule 110: AEDs must be on site when workers are in energized electrical environments.
• Rule 122: Second workers must be knowledgeable about hazards and positioned to see others performing work.
• Rule 114: Proper application of the Utility Work Protection Code (UWPC) is mandatory, with recertification every 27 months.

While these regulations are essential strides toward safety, they are not enough to ensure the protection of line crews; this must start with fostering a strong safety culture at work zones.

Hazards that utility workers face every day

Source: Electrical Safety Foundation

Utility work is ranked among the most dangerous professions, exacerbated by hazards utility workers face daily, often alone. If an accident occurs, it could be hours before help arrives.

Some additional hazards include:

• Trenching and confined spaces: Trench collapses are leading causes of fatalities among construction workers.
• Struck-by incidents: These deaths rank as one of the “Fatal Four” leading causes in construction; 75% involve heavy equipment.

Specific hazards include:

• Electrocution, the leading cause of death for linemen.
• Falling from heights, accounting for about 21% of lineman fatalities.
• Inadequate cover-up equipment which increases risks during operations.
• Inadequate PPE can lead to accidents, emphasizing its importance for safety.

Utility workers are also at risk of near misses or struck-by collisions despite using high-visibility clothing and other analog alert tools. These tools are often ineffective against the increasing distraction among motorists.

Distracted driving impacts utility job site safety

Distracted driving leads to tragic accidents, with 891 people killed and 37,701 injured in work zone crashes in 2022. Utility workers are not only at risk on highways; rural and residential roads also pose significant dangers.

When accidents occur, the repercussions affect entire communities, including financial burdens from hospital bills and the difficulty of finding qualified replacement workers.

Utility job site safety tips

Utility work will always be dangerous, but several strategies can mitigate risks:

• Adjust pace to terrain: Workers should slow down to assess hazards.
• Maintain clean worksites: Proper site upkeep prevents tripping hazards.
• Use quality machinery: Ensure machines are reliable to reduce risks.
• Encourage hazard reporting: Employees should feel safe reporting unsafe conditions.
• Wear appropriate PPE: Proper gear is vital, differing by task.
• Recognize signs of fatigue and stress: Mental health supports are crucial for maintaining safety.
• Conduct risk assessments for tasks: Assessing tasks helps prevent preventable injuries.
• Monitor weather conditions: Be vigilant about weather impact on job safety.
• Connect with other industry workers: Sharing safety practices can enhance protocols.
• Implement digital alerting systems: These can act as crucial reminders for motorists, enhancing safety at work sites.

Digital alerting protects workers before drivers reach their job sites

Digital alert systems, such as Safety Cloud by HAAS Alert®, provide significant advantages over analog alerts. Notifications can reach drivers up to 30 seconds in advance, allowing for a safer approach to work zones. Alerts disrupt distractions, ensuring that drivers are reminded of approaching hazards.